By: Goshu Melisew
Nutrition experts have stressed the need to collaborate in scaling up nutrition in Ethiopia.
This statement was made at the 6th Annual Ethiopian Nutrition Leaders Network (ENLN) Forum. Government officials from the health sector, scholars, researchers, nutritionists from across the country, and representatives from international organizations gathered at the forum to explore solutions for scaling up nutrition.
Associate Professor Tefera Belachew, a senior nutrition expert at Jimma University, told local media that climate change is seriously affecting the nutrition system.
He emphasized that all pertinent bodies need to join hands to combat climate change and strengthen nutrition resilience in Ethiopia.
The nutrition expert also highlighted that enhancing nutrition literacy is essential for cultivating effective leadership to overcome the challenge.
The expert suggested shifting the feeding system, enhancing nutrition literacy, increasing production and productivity, reduce post-harvest, cultivating climate-adaptable crops, and promoting climate-smart agriculture as solutions to scale up nutrition in Ethiopia.
Conveying a message at the forum on behalf of Hiwot Darsene, Lead Executive Officer at the Nutrition Coordination Office of the Ministry, Yonatan Molla stated that Ethiopia is implementing the 'Ethiopia Accelerates Climate Action to Scale up Food and Nutrition Initiatives' program.
“We all need to work together to advance our responsibilities to accelerate climate action in mitigating, and adapting to climate change impacts is critical to sustainable development.
To improve the resilience capacity of vulnerable pregnant and lactating women and children less than 2 years disproportionally affected by climate change impact, the Government of Ethiopia is implementing the Food and Nutrition Strategy across the country.”, he remarked.
The Ministry of Health has emphasized the critical need for collective action to strengthen nutrition initiatives, particularly for pregnant and lactating women and children under two.
Highlighting the Food and Nutrition Strategic policy and the Seqota Declaration, officials underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to address the impacts of climate change on food security and public health.
Ethiopia has set an ambitious goal to end stunting in children under the age of two by 2030, marking a significant milestone in its 15 years government commitment to improving child nutrition and health outcomes.